Author Archives: Andy Barth

MOSES LAKE, Wash. — Automated Ag Systems, of Moses Lake, and DBR Conveyor Concepts, of Conklin, Mich., are field testing a hybrid system they say will be the best harvest assist for apples short of robotic pickers. The system features … Continued

After years of study, a newly released proposal to reduce nitrates in Lower Valley groundwater recommends stiffer requirements for irrigated farmers and dairymen, as well as extending municipal water and sewer services to some rural areas. Recommendations, more than 60 … Continued

KENNEWICK, WA Tidy rows of apple trees climb the hills above Broetje Orchards’ packing houses in Prescott, east of the Tri-Cities. They extend to the Snake River and fan out along both sides. Broetje grows 500 million apples on more … Continued

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Tuesday will announce up to $12 billion in emergency relief for farmers hurt by the president’s trade war, according to two people familiar with the plans, in an effort to insulate food producers from … Continued

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries announced Thursday proposed revisions to the Endangered Species Act. Several proposed changes deal with procedures for listing species, recovery and designating critical habitat. The agencies propose to revise the procedures for … Continued

LACEY, Wash. – The Washington Farm Bureau named Sen. Doug Ericksen (R-Ferndale) and Rep. David Taylor (R-Moxee) 2018 legislators of the year for their commitment to protecting the state’s family farmers and ranchers and providing key leadership on issues critical to … Continued

MOSES LAKE — Sometimes speed is of the essence. Washington cherry orchards produce the best fruit in the world, and some consumers will pay a premium for the biggest cherries. But cherries present a problem. Of all the fruit that … Continued

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Some Chinese hay customers have put orders for Washington hay on hold while they wait to see if higher Chinese tariffs on U.S. hay stick, says Mark Anderson, president and CEO of Anderson Hay & Grain Co., … Continued

OLYMPIA – Early spring was cool and wet in Washington, but May was among the hottest and driest on record, which has state officials bracing for a worse-than-normal wildfire season. State residents probably won’t see the record destruction of 2014 … Continued

American fruit growers are starting to ship more containers of fresh fruit into China again. In recent weeks, some fruit shipments were stuck in customs in China. Public radio has learned that special flights to bring Northwest cherries to China … Continued